Reproductive isolation associated with the copper tolerance locus in Mimulus guttatus

The evolution of reproductive isolating barriers that prevent gene flow between species is essential to the process of speciation. One such barrier is intrinsic postzygotic isolation, which proceeds as hybrid sterility or inviability, and is commonly attributed to Dobzhansky-Muller genic incompatibilities. Here, deleterious interlocus interactions occur between incompatible alleles of complementary genes when brought together in the genome of a hybrid. Although these hybrid incompatibilities are widespread, having been identified in mammals, fish, plants and fungi, still relatively little is known about the nature of the genes involved. In the model plant species Mimulus, a Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibility exists between two populations of the yellow monkey flower, Mimulus guttatus, in which the interaction between a single gene from a copper tolerant population, Copperopolis, and a small number of polymorphic genes from a second non-tolerant population, Cerig-y-drudion, results in hybrid necrosis in the F1. Hybrid necrosis, a form of hybrid inviability with phenotypic characteristics strongly similar to those of plants responding to pathogen attack, is a common barrier preventing hybridization in plants. As well as being of interest in terms of evolution, hybrid necrosis has practical implications in plant breeding as it prevents the combining of desirable traits from related species in commercial cultivars. In the cross between Copperopolis and Cerig-y-drudion, copper tolerance, conferred by a single major gene, and hybrid necrosis are tightly linked but the independent or synonymous nature of the gene(s) in the Copperopolis population that contribute to these two characteristics is unknown. A key aim of this thesis was to establish the nature of the single gene in Copperopolis that contributes to hybrid necrosis with regards to its linkage to copper tolerance. The gene for hybrid necrosis was found to be tightly linked to, but discrete from, the gene controlling copper tolerance. Three candidate genes for this hybrid necrosis locus were indentified: a Jumonji-domain containing protein with probable function as a methyltransferase, a glycosyltransferase and a possible phosphatase. Interestingly, the latter two have potential functional roles in the plant immune system. The second key aim of this thesis was to perform the first investigation into the small number of genes in the Cerig-y-drudion population that contribute to the crossing barrier. Two QTLs for hybrid necrosis were identified. One QTL on Chromosome 9 is responsible for around 20% of the hybrid necrosis whilst the second QTL on Chromosome 12 acts as an enhancer of the first QTL causing an additional 10% of necrosis. Interestingly both these QTLs contain R genes, further implicating the possible involvement of the plant immune system in this crossing barrier

Towards a framework for cooperation:spatial public diplomacy on the island of Ireland

European spatial planning arguments advocate a blend of strategic thinking, coordination and related initiatives to promote and secure territorial cohesion. These ambitions embrace a set of normative agendas around economic, social and environmental convergence, competitiveness, policy coordination and efficient infrastructure provision across space. In practice, territorial management then involves devising interventions across inter-connecting scales of governance which comprise complex agency relations, differentiated places and defined communities. In transnational contexts, attempts to foster appropriate spatial governance arrangements and relations across sovereign borders necessitate re-crafting planning and development cultures and service delivery practices to advance territorial cohesion. Transnational working necessarily involves cooperation across an extended range of institutions, interests, influences and potential actors. This paper examines attempts to secure bi-lateral commitment to a joint planning framework for the two distinct territories on the island of Ireland. Specifically, it traces the formal and informal activities involved in the development of the 2013 Framework for Cooperation between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Informed by ideas of cross-border regionalism, it discusses the necessary spatial public diplomacy involved in the social reconstruction of strategic spatial planning to improve policy coordination and cross-border working

Agreements to Improve Student Aid: An Antitrust Perspective

Law schools tie much of their scholarship money to LSAT scores and undergraduate grades. By awarding substantial discounts to students with above-median indicators, schools attempt to climb the U.S. News ranking ladder. This practice, as many educators recognize, reduces access to legal education for low-income and minority students. As a result, many schools would like to shift at least some of their scholarship funds to need-based awards. Schools, however, struggle to make that change unilaterally; they worry about losing ground in the rankings race

The Octagon Values Model: community resilience and coastal regeneration

This paper considers efforts to build community resilience through bottom-up responses to socioeconomic and environmental change in coastal communities on the island of Ireland. The discussion adds to a growing body of research which suggests that regeneration initiatives which do not consider a community’s resilience to change will fail to catalyse the changes needed to put that place on a more sustainable trajectory. The Octagon Values Model is presented as a heuristic device for exploring this potentially complimentary and co-influencing relationship between regeneration and resilience building. When applied to two case studies of coastal Transition Towns, the Model illustrates how, in practical terms, resilience may be used to tap into personal concerns to mobilise civil engagement in specific local regeneration initiatives. The discussion highlights some of the perennial practical obstacles confronting voluntary-based, community-level activities which raise questions for the generation of proactive community resilience responses and modes of governance. In capturing environmental, economic, social and governance value domains, the Octagon Values Model illustrates that reconciling values and resource use is critical to both regeneration and resilience ambitions

The University of Mississippi: The Formative Years 1848-1906

An exhibit catalog detailing an exhibit about the early history of the University of Mississippi, held at the Archives and Special Collections Department of the university\u27s library in 1979. Includes in-depth information about the history of the university and its founders.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/um_pub/1018/thumbnail.jp

Interprofessional clinical placement involving speech pathology and counselling psychology: Two students\u27 experiences

This paper examines the interprofessional learning of a speech pathology and counselling psychology student in an interprofessional placement within an institution of the Department of Corrective Services in Perth, Western Australia. The institution is a pre-release centre that promotes rehabilitation and community reintegration in which up to six women are able to have their children, aged 0–4 years of age, live with them. The students provided a program to the mothers to facilitate development of a healthy mother–child relationship and the children’s communication development. This paper utilised qualitative descriptive analysis to explore two examples of student learning and found perceived growth in the students’ clinical skills, their understanding of the other profession and the concept of interprofessional collaboration. While students experience growth in a range of placements, the journey described in this paper is unusual in both the nature of the student collaboration and the placement itself. The research highlights the importance of joint clinical placements in the development of interprofessional collaborative relationships

Impacting Maternal and Prenatal Care Together: A Collaborative Effort to Improve Birth Outcomes

Objectives To describe the development of a collaborative partnership to improve birth outcomes in Harris County, Texas. Methods State and city-level maternal and infant health data were re-analyzed and presented to stakeholders at the zip-code level to generate a renewed response to health issues in these populations, particularly infant mortality. Public and private sector stakeholders convened to form the Impacting Maternal and Prenatal Care Together (IMPACT) Collaborative, identifying four priority areas that required collaborative action. Results Priority area action groups are currently working on strategies to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Collaborative strategies include: raising patient and provider awareness, campaign partnerships, advocating for legislative change, and implementing community based programs. As a collaborative, IMPACT received funding to implement an evidence-based health education intervention for women at risk of having poor birth outcomes. Conclusions Through the leveraging of resources, expertise, and leadership, collaborative partnerships are capable of formulating innovative ideas, developing sustainable solutions, and generating change at multiple levels